Control valve



Oct. 24, 1939.

A. NEVE-U 2,377,534

CONTROL VALVE Filed oct. 29, 1938 n I5 Z INVENTOR ANSELME NEVEU BY Zim ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 24, 1939 unire stares PATENT OFFICE CONTROL VALVE Application October 29, 1938, Serial No. 237,679r In France March 7, 1938 11 Claims.

This invention relates to control devices for horns or the like actuated by fluid under pressure and more particularly to a device of this character for controlling the operation of horn vor warning signal apparatus comprising two hornsof diiierent acoustic pitch which are to be rendered operative alternately so as to emit tWo different notes in succession and in continuous repetition while the control device is actuated.

.The invention has for its object to provide an improved control device for this purpose which is of simple and compact construction and relatively cheap to manufacture.

According to one feature of the invention the supply oi fluid under pressure to the two diier- ,ent horns vor the like alternately is arranged to be eiiect-edA by the action of the fluid supplied to amotor mechanism comprising a number of pistons or other movable abutments of the same `effective area.

. vAccording to another feature of the invention the order and duration of the supply of fluid to the two'horn devices and the intervening interval is arranged to be invariable and predetermined so thaty the composite warning note emitted possesses a constant character regardless of the manner in which the control device is actuated by the operator.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanyingr drawing the single figure of Which is a view in sectional elevation of one form of control :device embodying the invention.

Referring now to the drawing it will be seen vthat the device comprises a casing or body I having a chamber 2 in permanent communication with a suitable source of fluid under pressure through a'supply pipe 5. One end of the chamber 2 is constituted by a `piston 4 suitably secured tov one end ci a sleeve-like piston rod 5, the upper end of `which is similarly secured to an oppositely disposed piston of the same diameter as piston 4 and adapted to move in a cylinder formed within the c-asing I.

The piston rod 5 is surrounded by a relatively :movable collar l between which and the piston 4a lspring is interposed.- The collar` 'I' is normally urged into engagement 'with an annular ange flu providedon the piston rod 5 and is adapted to be displaced in a direction away from said ange' by vmeans of an arm 9 extendving from a control llever I@ which is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin III secured in the cas- :ing I.

IIfhe upper part of the casing I co-ntains a 'piston I2 of the same construction and diameter as the pistons 4 and E and provided with a downwardly extending tubular stem I3 the interior of which communicates at its upper end with a chamber I4 formed between thev pistons 6 and I2 and at its lower end with the chamber 2. A conv trol spring I5 is located in a chamber IE above the piston I2,' this spring being interposed between the piston I2 and the upper end of the casing I.

The chamber I6 communicates with a passage I1 formed in the casing I and leading to upper and lower ports I8 and I9 formed in the wall of the chamber 2, said ports being of such iiow capacity as to provide the desired operation of the device to be later described.

A passage in the casing I terminates in ports 2I and 22 formed in the cylindrical portion of the casing I containing the pistons B and I2. This portion of the casing is also provided 4with a port 23 communicating with a pipe 24 leading to a horn or warning signal device (not shown) giving a relatively low pitched or bass note. Another port 25 in this portion of the casing I communicates with a pipe 26 leading to a secondhorn or warning signal device (not shown) giving a relatively high pitched or treble note.

A suitable seal or stuing box device 2'I is provided for closing communication between a chamber 28 below the piston 5 and a chamber 29 in the casing I containing the collar l, the latter chamber being open to the atmosphere. The stung box device21 also acts in the capacity of a stop to be engaged by the ilange la, on piston rod 5 for dening the normal or nonoperating position of the collar l.

An external shoulder 3l! formed on the piston stem I3 is adapted to co-operate with an internal shoulder 3| formed on the piston rod 5 as will be hereinafter explained, said stem and rod having sliding contact with each other at opposite sides of said shoulders.

Operation The parts of the device are shown in the drawing yin their normal or non-operating condition, in which compressed air supplied from any suitable source through the pipe 3 enters the chamber 2 and passing through the tubular stem I3 enters the chamber I4. Compressed air from the chamber 2 also flows through the port i9 and passage I 'I `to the chamber I6. The chambers 2, I4 and I6 are thus all charged with'fluid at the same pressure. The space 28 below the piston 6 is open to the atmosphere through the uncovered port 25, pipe 26 and the treble horn (not shown), while port 23 is lapped by the piston 6, so that both horns (not shown) are thus silent.

When it is desired to give a warning signal the control lever I8 is rotated about its pivot II in the direction indicated by the arrows with the result that the arm 9 acting upon the collar 'I causes the later to move downward. ThisA downward movement of the collar I is transmitted through the spring 8 to the piston 4 which accordingly moves downwardly carryingwith it the piston rod 5 and the piston 6.

The downward movement of piston 6 uncovers the port 23 so that compressed air from the chamber I4 is supplied through the port 23 and the pipe 24 to the bass horn (not shown). The downward movement of the piston 4 covers the port I9 and uncovers the port I8 sothat communication between the chambers 2 and I6 is cut off and the chamber I6 is vented to the atmosphere through the passage Il and port I8. The piston I2 is then moved upwards by the pressure of fluid in the chamber I4 compressing the spring I5. This upward movement of thepiston I2 uncovers the port 2I but the port 22 has previously been c-overed by the downward movement of the piston 6, so that the chamber 28 is isolated.

During the upward movement of the piston I2 carrying with it the stem I3 the shoulder 30 engages with the shoulder 3| and the stem I3 thus causes the piston rod 5 and the pistons 4 and 6 to move upwardly compressing the spring 8. It will be observed that the pressures in thechambers 2 and I4 being equal to one anotherand the areas of the pistons 4 and 6 being also equal the sleeve 5 is substantially balanced as regards the opposing ilui-d pressures in the chambers 2 and I4. The upward movement of the piston rod sleeve 5 is thus readily effected bythe stem I3 and said sleeve and the pistons 4 and 6 are returned to their normal position shown, in which the ports-I9, 22 and 25 are uncovered and the ports I8 and 23 are covered. `As a` result of covering port 23 the bass horn (not shown) is silenced, while fluid under pressure iis. supplied from the chamber 28 to the treble horn (not shown) by way of port 25 and pipe 26, the chamber 28 being replenished with fluid froml the chamber I4 through uncovered port 2|, passage 28 and port 22. y l

The port I9 being uncovered upon upward movement of piston 4, fluid under pressure is again supplied from the chamber 2 to chamber kI6 through passage I'I so that the piston I2 is then moved downwardly underthe action of the spring I5, thereby covering vthe port 2I and cutting off the supply of uid from the chamber I4 to the chamber 28. yI'heoperation of the treble horn then ceases as soon as the fluid contained in the chamber 28 has become exhausted.

The pistons 4, 6 and I2 are thus all returned to their originalor normal positions, and if Athe control lever I0 and consequently collar I and spring 8 have been permitted to return to the position shown, the operation of the horns will cease as soon as the pressure in the chamber 28 has been reducedto atmospheric pressure by ow of iiuid to the treble horn.

If, however, the lever I0 is maintained in its operative position so as to continue to exert a downward pressure through the spring 8 upon the piston 4 by means of the collar the'pistons 4 and 6 will again be moved downwardly by said spring upon the venting of fluid from chamber 28 and the cycle of operation above describe-d will be continuously repeated, that is to say, the venting and reduction of pressure in the chamber 28 will cause the pistons 4 and 6 and the rod 5 again to move downwardly eecting the production of a note by the bass horn followed by the production of a note by the treble horn as these pistons again move upwardly.

It will be observed that the cycle of operation above referred to invariably begins with the emission of a note by the bass horn and concludes with the emission of a note by the treble horn.

While one illustrative embodiment of the invention has been described in detail, it is not the intention to limit its scope to that embodiment or otherwise than by the terms oi the appended claims.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A reciprocatory motor comprising a control device adapted to be moved alternately first to one and then to another of two control positions, resilient means operative to effect movement of said control device from one of said positions to the other position, means for operating said resilient means, and a piston for moving saidy control device from said other position to said one position, said piston being controlled by said control devicev and rendered operative in said other position and rendered non-operating .in said one position 2. A reciprocatory motor comprising a control device adapted to be moved alternately rst to one and then to another of two control positions,

resilient means operative to effect movement of one and then to another of two control positions, 1,50

resilient means operative to eiect movement of said control device from one of said positions to y the other position, manually operative means for conditioning said resilient means to move said control device, a piston having a connection with i said control device and operative by iluid under pressure upon movement of said control device to said other position for effecting movement of said control device to said one position, said control device in said one position balancing the fluid pressure on said piston for rendering same nonoperative. 4. A reciprocatory motor comprising a control device having two control positions and adapted to be moved alternately first to one and then` other position, said vpiston being operative Yupon the -ventingof fluid Aunder pressure from said chamber toimovesaid control device 'from said other position lto said one position. lf5. A reciprocatory motor comprising a control Idevice having two control positions `and adapted tobe moved altern'atelyflrst toy one .and'then tothefother of said positions, a-spring connected to `said control device, manually operative Ymeans loforistressing said spring to move said control devices' from one of said positions to the: other, .a piston'having :a .lost motion connection withsaid control device to permit relative .movement-of said control device from said one position to said A,15 other position, said piston being oonstantly'sub- .20 sure to said chamber for balancingthey-pressures on vsaidxpist'on and being operative upon movement to said other position to vent said chamber whereby the pressure on said opposite face of said piston is rendered effective to operate sai-d piston to move said control device to said one positionagainst the stress of said spring.

6. A reciprocatory motor comprising a controldevice adapted to be moved alternately first to one and then to another of two control po- Sitions, resilient means operative to effect movement of said control device from one of said positions to the other position, means for operating said resilient means, a piston for moving said controldevice from said other position to said one position, said piston being controlled by said control device and rendered operative in said other position and non-operating in said one position, arresting means associated with said control device and controlled by the cooperative acy tion of said piston and control device upon movement of said control device to said one position for holding said control device against movement out of said one position by said resilient means,

and means for rendering said arresting means ineffective an interval of time after being rendered eective.

'7. A reciprocatory motor comprising a control device adapted to be moved alternately flrst to one and then to another of two control positions,

,y said control device being operative in said one position to supply fluid under pressure to a chamber and in the other position to vent fluid under pressure from said chamber, resilient pressure exerting means connected to said control device and operative to exert a pressure thereon for moving said control device from said one position to. said other position, a piston having a lost motion connection `with said control device and subject to the opposing pressures in said chamber and a constantly acting pressure and operative upon said chamber being vented to move said control device from said other position to said one position, means associated with said piston and cooperative with said control device upon obtain- 55 ing said one position to supply fluid under pressure to another chamber for opposing the action of said resilient means, means operative upon charging the rst named chamber with iiuid under pressure for moving said piston relative to 70 said control device for cutting off the supply of uid under pressure to the'second named chamber, and means for releasing the iiuid under pressure from the second named chamber to condition said control device for movement by said re- 75 silient means.

8. Areciprocatory motor comprising a pair of .spaced vconnected pistons of the same area and subject lon opposite faces to the pressure of fluid rfrom ya source,said `pistons being movable alter- -nately rst to` one .and thenl to another of two. 5

control positions, a spring arranged to act on one .tons vandlsubje'ct on one face to the pressure of fluid from .said source and on the opposite face to the uid pressure in a chamber, said pair of .pistons .being `operative'in said one position to `connect said `chamber with said source of iiuid15 pressure for balancing the fluid pressures on said thindfpiston'.forthereby rendering said resilient fmeans .effective to move said vpair of pistons from ,sition xtovent fluid under .pressure from `said chamber to render said third piston effective to move said pair of pistons from said other position to said one position.

9. A reciprocatory motor comprising a pair of 25 spaced connected pistons of the same area and subject on opposite faces to the pressure of fluid from a source, said pistons being movable alternately first to one and then to another of two control positions, a spring arranged to act on 30 one of said pistons and operative upon being stressed to effect movement of said pistons from one of said two control positions to the other,

a third piston operatively connected to said pair of pistons adapted to be operated by fluid under 35 pressure to move said pair of pistons from said other position to said one position, said pair of pistons controlling the fluid pressure on said third piston for rendering said third piston effective upon movement of said pair of pistons to 40 said other position and ineffective upon movement of said pair of pistons to said one position.

10. A reciprocatory motor comprising a pair of spaced connected pistons of the same area and subject on opposite faces to the pressure of fluid from a source, said pistons being movable alternately first to one and then to another of two control positions, a spring arranged to act on one of said pistons and operative upon being stressed to effect movement of said pistons from one of said two control positions to the other, a third piston having a lost motion connection with said pair of pistons and adapted to be moved by fluid under pressure from a normal position to effect movement of said pair of pistons from said other 55 position to said one position, a spring acting on said third piston for effecting movement thereof in the reverse direction relative to said pair of pistons back to said normal position, said pair of pistons controlling the fluid pressure on said 60 third piston and being operative in said other position to render the fluid pressure on said third piston effective to move said pair of pistons and operative in said one position to balance the uid pressure on said third piston to render said spring effective, and means controlled by the cooperation of one of said pair of pistons and said third piston upon movement of said pair of pistons to said one position and the subsequent relative movement of said third piston to delay movement of said pair of pistons by said resilient means.

11. A reciprocatory motor comprising a casing having a pair of axially aligned piston bores of the same diameter one of which bores is open at its outer end to a third, coaxial-piston bore, a control piston slidably mounted in'eachof the bores of same diameter, and a reversing piston slidably mounted in the third bore, a sleeve-like piston rod operatively connecting the two control pistons, a rod connected to said reversing piston and slidably'mounted in said sleeve-like rod and having an axial passage connecting the chamber intermediate the third piston and adjacent control piston to a chamber at the outer face of the other control piston, said chambers being constantly connected to a source of fluid pressure, said control pistons having two positions, a spring arranged to act upon stressing to move said control pistons vfrom one of said two positions to the other, means associated With said casing for stressing said spring, said control pistons in said one position supplying fluid under pressure to a reversing chamber at the other face of said reversing piston for balancing the fluid pressures thereon for rendering said spring eiective, and said control pistons in said other position venting the iiuid pressure from. said revers- -ing chamber for rendering said third piston effective to move said control pistons from said other position to said one position, said casingvhaving a communication opened by one of said control pistons andsaid reversing piston when said reversing` piston moves sufciently to position said control pistons in said one position through which fluid under pressure is adapted to be supplied to `act in a chamber atr the inner face of the inner control piston for opposing movement of said control pistons by said spring, and a spring in said reversing chamber operative upon the supply of fluid under pressure thereto to move said reversing piston relative to said control pistons for closing said communication, said casing having a vent passage ,open to the last named chamber for releasing'uid under pressure therefrom.

v 1 vANSELME NEVEU. 

